Belt-fastening



R E L L U P D U M. d 0 M D IN.

BELT FASTENING.

No. 499,880. Patented June 20, 1893.

Witnasseas:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES 'D. FULLER, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

BELT-FASTENING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,880, dated June 20,1893.

Application filed May 31, 1892. Serial No. 435,109. (No model.) 7

T0 on whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES D. FULLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kalamazoo, in the county of Kalamazoo and State of Michigan,have invented new and useful Improvements in Belt-Fastenings, of which.

the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to belt fastenings or connections, and it has forits object, to provide an article of this character, which by simplevariations of its form and manner of adjusting, will be more univerallyapplicable to all conditions of both new, and nearly worn out belting,and also to provide an article of extreme cheapness and durability.

With these ends in View, the said invention consists in certain detailsof construction and fastenings on the under side, with the loops passingthrough the belt. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the loops of unequallength as shown in Fig. 6, in use. Fig. 4, a plan view, shows itsapplication to a torn corner of a belt. Fig. 5 is a detail view of thecable and loops as used for a single fastening. Fig. 6 is a detail viewof the central cable, with loops of unequal length for a doublefastening.

Like letters are used to indicate like parts in the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, A is two wires twisted around each other inregular coils, and having loops 0 and D thrown out at intervals; theseloops are equidistant from each other and located on either side of themain cable A, formed by the union of the two wires. I usually locatethese loops about one-half inch apart, as practical tests prove this tobe very satisfactory, but do not of course limit myself to anyparticular distance.

In operation, I use a gage punch, which forms the holes at distancescorresponding with that of the loops from each other; the ends of thebelt E on the side coming next the pulley are slightly chamfered; theright number of loops are cut off and are inserted in each hole in eachend of the belt to be joined together. A wireB, of suflicient strengthis then threaded through the loops 0, which now project from the outsideof the belt E;'the ends are slightlybent to prevent slipping and thefastening is complete; the entire tensile strain of the belt pull beingdistributed evenly across the back of the belt by the binding wire B,and not on the leather only, immediately in front of each loop.

I make no claim whatever upon the binding wire, or the distribution ofthe belt pull,

as before mentioned. This method has long been common to almostinnumerable varieties of belt hooks, links, wire connections, &c. Havingthoroughly tried all I have ever been able to find, and noting theirdefects, my sole aim has been to supply a connection which would be ofextreme cheapness, that could be used until worn out, which could bereadily applied, and which unlike any other Wire fastening, would neverpull out at the ends next the edges of the belt, or require enough extralength to return, or relace back toward the center of the belt. I havefound by practical test, on a large number of my own belts, that theextreme difficulty of holding any kind of wire fastening at the edges ofthe belt under a hard pull, orsudden strain, furnishes an excellentreason for the fact, that almost none of such are in general use. I havecompletely overcome this difficulty by the strength of the wrap of thewires around each other, and tests have shown that under great strainthe wires will break beforeuntwisting. It should also be noted, thatshould this fastening break at any point, after long wear, I still haveas good a fastening left as if composed of single links. A specialpointof advantage will also, be found as follows:-All the loops on the righthand side of the central cable are formed of one wire, and those on theleft from another. By taking hold of a loop on each side it is seen,that they can be readily rocked back and forth sidewise after the mannerof a hinge. Ordinarily in use this does not occur,

but in case of sudden strain,accident or running over very smallpulleys, the extreme suppleness and pliability of the joints is mostvaluable, and peculiar only to this fastening- In Fig. 4,1 show avaluable application peculiar to my fastening. It is a thing of almosthourly occurrence on many machines where the belt travel is very rapidand the pulleys perhaps too small, for the belt to run 01?, when goinginto a heavy cut, or the belt is a little too slack; almost invariablythe joint sufiers worst, and acorner is sometimes torn out; it isundesirable to splice in a short piece, and it is frequentlyimpracticable to cut off enough to secure a new hold; by cutting out thetorn corner as shown, an extra set of links are quickly applied and thejoint is as good as ever.

Fig. 3 shows the application of the form shown in Fig. 6 where I employalternately a long loop D,and a short loop 0, to accomplish preciselythe same result as where a double sewed lace leather joint is used. Thegreat utility of this form can be readily seen when a canvas, rubber,old rawhide, or common leather belt is used, where from long-use andgradual absorption of lubricating oils; the belt has become. so weakthat it is almost impossible to make a joint that willnot keep tearingout. Such belts will in many places do long service. This form of mydevice, as applied in Fig. 3 is entirely successful and willformaperfect joint, which is impossible to tear out .as long as the beltcan be made to run.

Fig. 2 shows the belt E lying next to the rim of a pulley G. It will beobserved that thecentral cable A does not touch the pulley,

thus avoiding wear. The manner and direction in-which the loops passthrough the belt are also shown inthis figure.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent,

around each other in the form of a cable, said cable being provided withloops which are thrown out at intervals along the same; the said loopsbeing formed from the wires composing the cable, and arranged on nearlyor quite opposite sides of the same, and adapted when in use to extendupwardly and after passing through holes in the belt, to have their endsat an angle to the plane of the belt, in order to receive the bindingwires on the opposite side, substantiallyas described.

2. In a belt fastening for unitingthe two ends ofa'belt, loops or links,formed at regular intervals by elongations or side extensions of twowires twisted around each other in the form of a cable, in combinationwith binding wires which passthrough the ends of the-loops or links,after said loops or links have been sufficiently inserted through theholes in the belt to receive the Wires on the opposite side thereof,substautially'as described.

4 CHARLES D. FULLER.

Witnesses:

FRED A. FULLER, S. E. MEDDINS.

